Boat structure



Oct. 13, 1964 v. B. HARRINGTON 3,152,342

BOAT STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1963 ,2g INVENTOR 5y H/s A Wag/JEVS H4Yase/3f M5-3a. RUSSELL KERN United States Patent Office 3,152,342Patented Oct. 13, 1964 3,152,342 BOAT STRUCTURE Vincent B. Harrington,P.O. Box 2565, Huntridge, Las Vegas, Nev. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No.278,328 Claims. (Cl. 9 2) This invention relates to a boat structure andin its preferred form to a foldable or knock-down type boat structurewhich in its folded form provides a relatively small, compact, andportable package. The structure in its extended form is especiallysuitable as a sportsmans boat to be used for hunting and fishing.

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable boat structure whichmay be readily erected by a single person.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a boat which inits extended form has a rugged structure and a seaworthy hull.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable boatstructure having a bottom comprising two sections hinged together and atensionable means for bowing the bottom in a plane extendingtransversely of the hinge with means being provided for resistinghinging of the sections with the boat structure in its extended form. Inits preferred form, the tensionable means comprises a loop of ropeencircling the opposite ends of the boat structure and extendinglongitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold thebottom in its bowed form. Preferably, a exible, watertight coveringforms the sides of the erected structure, extending upwardly from thelongitudinal edges of the bottom.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed specification and the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred form of the foldable boat ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the boat of FIGS. 1 3 with the canvascovering removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the hinge takenalong line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentar sectional view taken along line 6 6 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 7-7of FIG. 2 illustrating the corner structure of the extended boat; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the folded boat.

The boat structure of the invention includes a bottom 10 made up of twopanel sections 12 and 14 which are hinged at their abutting ends by atransverse hinge 15. The panel sections are preferably made of thinplywood or other exible material. A tensionable means, preferably a rope16, is provided for bowing the bottom 10 in a plane extendingtransversely of the hinge 15. The outer ends of the two panel sections12 and 14 have aiixed thereto and respectively support upwardlyextending, relatively short end members 22 and 24. The smaller endmember 24 of the panel section 14 is the stem of the boat structurewhile the larger end member 22 of the other panel section 12 serves asthe stern of the boat. The end members 22 and 24 are provided withnotches 17, as best seen in FIG. 7, adjacent their upper, outer cornersto receive the rope 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the rope 16 takes a loop formencircling the opposite ends of the structure and extendinglongitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold thebottom 10 in its bowed form. More exactly speaking, the rope 16encircles the outside faces of the two end members 22 and 24 and isseated in their respective notches 17. The longitudinally extendingportions or lengths 19 and 21 of the rope 16 outline the upper edges ofthe boat sides 23 and 25. One end of the rope 16 is provided with an eye18 with the other end of the rope carrying a snap hook 20 which in theextended boat structure engages the eye and draws the rope taut. Theinclusion of a turnbuckle adjacent the hood 20 is sometimes desirable toprovide for adjustment of the length of the rope 16. The rope 16 may bea continuous non-ending piece providing a somewhat undersized loophaving no eye 18 and snap lock 20. In extending the boat using acontinuous rope, the loop is placed about one of the end members 22 or24 and the panel section of the other end member is flexed inwardlybeyond its normal erected position, following which the loop is slippedover the latter end member into its notches 17.

In the preferred form of the boat structure illustrated in the drawing,the two panel sections 12 and 14 are hinged by the hinge 15 to permitfolding of the sections in an upward direction. A bridging member 26,preferably made of plywood and of the same width as the boat structureextends across the hinge 15 and is removably held at its ends to theconcave side of the bowed bottom 10 by cleats 28 and 30. The two cleats28 and 30 have substantially the same width as the bottom 10 and areheld thereto by screws 33.

A covering 34 made of waterproof canvas or other exible, watertightmaterial is cut and sewn to lit the frame defined by the bowed bottom 10and the longitudinally extending lengths 19 and 21 of the rope 16. Thelongitudinally extending lengths 19 and 21 provide part of the supportfor the canvas sides 23 and 25 of the boat structure. The canvascovering 34 has a zipper 44 or a gromment and lacing arrangement on itsupper surface (see FIG. 1) which extends to a manhole or cutout area 46.Once the canvas covering 34 is installed, it is not necessary to removeit as the boat frame may be collapsed within the covering. In folding orcollapsing the boat, the zipper 44 is opened, the rope 16 loosened, andthe bridging stabilizing member 26 removed from its cleats 2S and 30.With these steps, the canvas covering 34 becomes slack and the two panelsections 12 and 14 may be folded to provide the compact packageillustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates the boat in water, it will beseen that the force of the Water takes up the slack in the canvas sides23 and 25 and tends to lay the canvas along the longitudinal edges ofthe plywood bottom 10 of the boat structure. This is an importantfeature of the invention as it affords stability, providing a keel 37 ora keel 39 when the boatman shifts his weight to one side or the other ofthe boat structure. When the boatman shifts his weight toward side 23(see FIG. 3), the keel 37 dips downwardly and tends to compensate forveering action which might otherwise occur because of the tendency ofthe boat to move to the opposite side from which the boatman ispaddling. Similarly, when the boatman shifts his weight toward the side25, keel 39 of that side governs. Thus, the boatman may paddle on eitherside of the boat structure and still continue on a straight course. Ifthe boatman desires maneuverability, he centrally locates his weight;and the boat assumes the horizontal position of FIG. 3 and becomeshighly maneuverable.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variouschanges, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in suchembodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as denedby the claims which follow.

I claim:

A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together means for lockingthe hinge with the panel sections in' about a transverse hinge;

an extended position;

a tensionable means for bowing said bottom in a plane extendingtransversely of the hinge, said tensionable means comprising a loop ofrope encircling opposite ends of the structure and extendinglongitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold thebottom in its bowed form; and

a flexible, watertight covering extending upwardly from longitudinaledges of said bottom and forming sides of the foldable boat.

A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together about a transversehinge;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections a bottom having twopanel sections connected together about a transverse hinge;

tensionable means for imparting a bowed shape to the bottom in itsextended position, said tensionable means comprising a loop of ropeencircling opposite ends of the structure and extending longitudinallythereof between corners of the structure to hold the botton in its bowedform;

said panel sections being hinged to permit folding of the sections in anupward direction;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections in their extendedpositions; and

a exible, watertight covering for forming sides eX- tending upwardlyfrom the longitudinal edges of the bottom.

4. A boat structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means forlocking the hinge comprises a bridging member extending across the hingeand removably held to the concave side of the bowed bottom.

5. A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together` about atransverse hinge, said panel sections at their outer ends having short,upwardly extending end members;

tensionable means for imparting a bowed shape to the bottom in itsextended position, said tensionable means comprising a loop of ropeencircling the end members of the respective panel sections and extend-Ving longitudinally of ythe bottom between the corners thereof to holdthe bottom in its bowed form with said longitudinally extending portionsof the ropepro-V viding a foldable upper-frame;

said panel sections being hingedto fold in an upward direction;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections in an extendedposition, said locking means cornprising a bridging, member extendingacross the hinge and removably held to the concave side of the boatbottom; and

a flexible, watertight covering enclosing the boat bottom and formingsides extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of thewbottom tothe foldable rope frame.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS WardwellJuly 5, 1881 Vaghi Apr. 12, 1910 Grimston Feb. 27, Jackson Oct. 18,

1. A FOLDABLE BOAT STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A BOTTOM HAVING TWO PANELSECTIONS CONNECTED TOGETHER ABOUT A TRANSVERSE HINGE; MEANS FOR LOCKINGTHE HINGE WITH THE PANEL SECTIONS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION; A TENSIONABLEMEANS FOR BOWING SAID BOTTOM IN A PLANE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THEHINGE, SAID TENSIONABLE MEANS COMPRISING A LOOP OF ROPE ENCIRCLINGOPPOSITE ENDS OF THE STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOFBETWEEN CORNERS OF THE STRUCTURE TO HOLD THE BOTTOM IN ITS BOWED FORM;AND A FLEXIBLE, WATERTIGHT COVERING EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM LONGITUDINALEDGES OF SAID BOTTOM AND FORMING SIDES OF THE FOLDABLE BOAT.